Tape magazine for shoe machinery



Nov. 4, 194.1. P. ODGNNELL 2,251,127

TAPE MAGAZINE FOR SHOE MACHINERY Filed March 21;. 1938? Patented Nov. 4, 1 941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.261.127 v TAPE MAGAZINE FOR SHOE MACfiINEBY Philip L. O'Donnell, Nor-wood, Ohio Application March 21, 1938, Serial No. 197,080

5 Claims.-

This invention relates to a tape holding appliance for use with a shoe sewing machine and particularly for use with those machines in which reinforcing tape and French binding are applied at the same time by one operation of said sewin machine, for example, as shown in Gerber Patent An object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact and eflicient magazine for the reinforcing tape, from which said tape may be taken as needed.

A further object of the invention is to provide suitable enclosed tape guide means between the tape'magazine and a point adjacent the conventional tape guide located upon the work support of the sewing machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suitable enclosed tape guide through which reinforcing tape, which has one surface coated with an adhesive substance, may be led from the tape magazine to the tape guide without subjecting the adhesive side of said tape to contact with said guide. I v

anism embodying a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of one type-tape release. wheel forming a detail of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a modified form of a 1'5 'tape release wheel.

Still a further object of the invention is to 2 provide a tape magazine which may be mounted flat upon the table of a sewing machine, and which may be easily refilled when empty and further, which has a suitable aperture in the lid thereof whereby the quantity of tape in said magazine may be ascertained at a glance, by the operator.

Another object is to provide a device of the character referred to, wherein the parts are so related that the adhesively coated tape is withdrawn from the roll or supply of tape, in such manner as minimizes the efiect of the adhesion sion as it is applied to the shoe or other part, by,

instrumentalities of the type shown in said Gerber patent.

These and other objects are attained by the 45 means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side plan view of a device embodying the invention, inoperative position relative to parts of a machine of the character shown in Gerber Patent 1,466,937.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of parts shown in Fig.

' 1 showing the magazine lid in open position.

. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig.2.

It is customary in the manufacture of women's shoe uppers to apply a French binding to the top edge and at the same operation .0 apply a reinforcing tapeto the opposite side of said upper. The French binding is used to give a finished appearance to the shoe whereas the binding is used to prevent stretching of the leather and to generally reinforce the edges of the thin materials used for women's shoes.

The reinforcing tape is fed beneath the shoe upper through a tape guide positioned on the work support, such as the one disclosed in the patent to Gerber 1,466,937.

The side .of the reinforcing tape which is sewed next to the leather or fabric comprising the shoe upper is coated with a non-drying gum adhesive.

By reason of said adhesive substance, the entire.

width of the reinforcing tape is secured in place, although but one edge is actually stitched to the shoe upper. v

It is to provide a suitable storage magazine for the adhesive reinforcing tape and a suitable enclosed guide leading from said magazine to the tape guide in which the sewing is done that this invention is directed.

As shown in Fig. 1, 10 represents a stitching machine .work support or standard, suitably mounted upon work board or table I I. To the top of work support l0 a suitable tape guide I2 is mounted (Fig. 2). A tape magazine I3 is mounted flat upon said work board I I. Said magazine comprises an outer circular housing l4 having a U-shaped channel-way l5 formed, integral therewith and extending tangentially therefrom. A

freely rotatable plate I6 is mounted upon axle ll which is suitably fastened to housing 14 by any suitable means such as byweldlng. Axle or pin I! has a collar l8 formed integral therewith which functions as a bearing surface for sleeve l9 which extends through plate I and terminates in a collar I I9. In this manner the frictional resistance of plate I6 is reduced to a minimum, as it rotates within housing I4. Plate I6 is held in place by washer 20 and nut 2| (Fig. 3). A suitable shoulder 22 is provided on plate I6 for centering roll 23 of adhesive tape. A suitable lid 24 hinged as at 25 to housing |4 completes the tape magazine. A window 26 of transparent material is provided through lid 24 as shown in Fig. 5. This window is located so as to enable the machine operator to be able to ascertain the quantity of tape in the magazine, at a glance. Such in formation is quite important to an operator in a shoe factory since to run out of tape while in the process of sewing an upper necessitates a delay while the partly sewed upper is removed from the stitching machine in order that the tape and French binding may be ripped off.

A suitable L-shaped tape channel 30, comprising a horizontal leg 3| and vertical leg 32 is positioned between tape magazine I3 and the ma chine tape guide I2 mounted on work support Ill. Channel 3|] may be constructed by cutting through three sides of square stock and by making a right angle bend in the fourth side whereby a channel member, asshown in Fig. 1, is obtained. As shown in Fig. 4, a slit 33 is provided longitudinally of said channel member whereby tape may be easily threaded through legs 3| and 32 by slipping the tape into the interior of the channel sideways through slit 33. A suitable bracket 34 suitably fastened to vertical leg 32 is used to attach said leg firmly to the work support ID by any suitable means such as by screws 35. The horizontal leg 3| fits into the Ushaped channel-way (Figs. 2 and 4). A suitable roller 36 is vertically mounted within the magazine end of channel leg 3| (Figs. 2 and 6), and a similar roller 31 is mounted in the lower end of vertical leg 32 having its axis in a horizontal plane relative to the first roller 36 and at right angles thereto. A third roller 38 having a concave central portion is mounted adjacent the upper discharge end of leg 32 having its axis in a horizontal plane but at right angles with roller 31.

In use a length of tape 39 is unwound from roll 23 and threaded through channels 3| and 32 as follows:. the adhesive side of tape 39 is adjacent the roll 23. Said tape is led off of roll 23 around roller 36 with the adhesive side away from said roller. The tape is turned ninety degrees as it passes through leg 3| so as to pass around roller 31 with the adhesive side away from said roller. Said tape is turned another ninety degrees as it passes up through leg 32 and over roller 38 from which it is delivered with the adhesive side uppermost. As shown in Fig. 6 the upper or discharge end of leg 32 terminates in a tip 40 which has hingedly mounted thereto a cover plate 4| which is capable of being pivoted about screw 42 in order to facilitate the threading of tape from leg 32 into tape guide l2. When in closed position plate 4| serves to protect the upper adhesive surface of the tape by shielding said tape up to within a fraction of an inch of the tape guide unit l2. bility of the adhesive surface collecting dust, cloth and thread particles as it is unreeled from a tape roll and led to guide unit I2 is entirely eliminated, thereby enabling an operator to work with greater speed and freedom not having to worry about the condition or presence of the said adhesively coated reinforcing tape.

By conducting the adhesively coated reinforc- In this way the possiing tape from the magazine to the guide unit on the machine through the enclosed channels as set forth, greater safety is obtained since the possibility of the material being stitched upon the machine being caught up by the adhesive substance and pulled under the needle, is prevented.

The advantages presented by such a device are obvious since it provides a visible, easily loaded tape magazine having an enclosed tape guide channel which protects the tape from the time said tape leaves the roll until it is presented within the tape guide to be sewed in place on a shoe upper.

The channel member is compact and does not interfere in any way with the operation of the machine, nor with the feeding of the work through the sewing machine since the cover plate 4| presents a smooth surface. By fastening the magazine to the table II the unit is rigidly positioned fiat against the work table in such a way that work may be piled upon it without lessening the effectiveness of the unit in any way.

Attention is directed to the line :r-:c in Fig. 2. It will be noted that such line extends through the axis of the plate I6 and tape roll 23 and adjacent the surface of the roller 36. The tape, coated on its inner surface with a so-called cold adhesive, must turn or bend at about ninety degrees, or substantially along line :c-x in order to pass over the roller 36. The cold adhesive causes the outer layer of tape to adhere to the next lower layer of tape, so that ordinarily some power is necessary to detach the outer layer of tape as the tape passes to the rolle 36. The tape, while generally quite flexible, has an inherent character of resisting lateral bending. Consequently, since bending of the tape at ninety degrees or exactly along line a:-:c would meet a substantial resistance to bending, on the part of the tape, the tape will. more readily flex along the curved line shown at 56 of Fig. 2. Thus the resistance of the tape toward bending, slight though it may be, is utilized for facilitating and expediting separation of the tape from the roll, immediately prior to the passage of the tape to the feed channel or duct 30. Thus there is always provided a small length of tape, approximating the distance from line 22-11: to the place 5|, at which place the tape leaves or separates from the roll, and which small amount of free tape assures feed of the tape, free of any tension, to the machine parts associated with the standard ID. This feature is very important for the reason that any strain or tension applied to the tape, as it is laid upon the shoe upper, tends to wrinkle or distort the shoe upper. practice, the free length of tape is slightly less than is shown at 50--5| of Fig. 2, the relationship being shown somewhat exaggerated for the purpose of clarity of explanation. If a rather heavy or stiff tape should be used, the relationship would approximate that shown at 50-5|. however, with womens shoes, effort is directed toward the use of the lightest materials, for reinforcement, without seriously impairing the ultimate objective of producing a form or shape retaining shoe.

Shoe uppers for women's shoes are made of rather expensive materials, .and therefore every effort is made to avoid waste of any uppers for any reason whatsoever. The shoe parts are sent through a factory in lots, each calculated exactly and these parts originate in various parts of the plant. Any interference with production or In actual damage of parts of such lots therefore involves loss of considerable time ofemployees, as well as loss of materials. Accordingly, the positioning of the magazine and the window 26 thereof, im-

mediately or substantially beneath that portion of the work support at which an operator feeds material to the work support, makes it possible for the operator to at all times observe the condition of the tape supply and thus avoid feeding or an upper to themachine at a time when the tape supply is inadequate to complete 'the particular upper about to be worked upon. In this regard, it will be observed that as the tape roll.

decreases in diameter, the portion of the tape, extending from the tape roll to the roller 36, ex-

tendsalmost diametrically beneath and across the window-26, or approximately along line 11-41 thatthe portion of such tape, leaving the cham-' her and extending to the discharge passage thereof, extends at-approximately right angle to the discharge passage. That relationship is substantially maintained during the entire period of feed or-discharge of the tape from the magazine. While such angle will vary. slightly between an acute and'an obtuse angle, passing through a right angle condition, such angles are at all times of appreciable divergence in excess of a fortyiive degree angle. By leading the tape to the channel, at an angle, as contrasted with taking the tape from the roll on a line tangential to the outer edge of the tape as would be the case if the rollwere reversed'so the disc would revolve in counterclockwise direction, it'is possible to bring the ,uncoat'ed or back side of the tape into contact with the roller 26, thus avoiding any friction or hindrance to the movement or feed of the tape. by reason of contact of the adhesively coated side,

release wheel 10 would operate, whenever the sewing and tape applying machine Ill would operate. To attain that end, the wheel 10 is mounted on the motor shaft I4 of electric motor 13 and motor .13 is so connected with the cus-' tomary electric motor used for operating the stitching machine ID, that operation of customary treadle or other means for making and breaking the circuit of the motor for machine In would likewise close and open the circuit embracing the motor !3.

The tape feed wheel 10 comprises a cylindrical shaft having its circumference serrated or roughened in any suitable manner, for example, by vertical file marks ll (Fig. 9). An alternative form of tape feed wheel as shown in Fig. 10 comprises an elongated member 12 which will impart whipping motion to the tape 39, which will cause the tape to be effectively freed from the supply roll 23.- I

As shown in Fig. 8,tape feed wheel I0 has an independent motor drive comprising electric motor 13 and shaft 14. This unit may be quickly and easily installed to the tape magazine just described by drilling a hole 15 through work support table II and through the bottom of the circular housing 14 whereby a tape feed wheel I0 may be inserted therethrough as shown. The

= motor 13 is held securely in place by 'means of suitable strap members as 16, the free ends of mission control shaft 'I8'is rotated whereby the sewing machine is connected to the power source. A suitable switch 19, mounted on a suitable bracket 80, is positioned adjacent control lever 11 whereby switch actuating pin 8| will be depressed as lever I1 is moved to the left, with of the tape with any portion of the apparatus prior to contact thereof upon thework at the top of the standard A ll).

It was previously explained that the tape thatfor which they are designed, various objec-' tionable developments make themselves evident.

wrinkling of thematerial worked is one of such objectionable. developments. In view of the fact that in'some instances the adhesive used on the tape may be too tenacious to permit ready separation of the outer convolution of tape, from theroll, there may be provided suitable power actuated'means, for eifecting release of the outer convolution of tape, adjacent the tape receiving end of the channel 30. One form of device for performing such function comprises a tape tension relief wheel, shown at 10 of Fig. 2. The dotted line 90'shows substantially the. position that the tape assumes, when relief wheel 10 is interposed between the tape roll 23 andthe roller 36 Ins'uch, modification of the invention, the roller may be omitted, if desired. Regardless of whether a roller such as 36 is used, the tape the result that the circuit to electric motor I3 is closed. This starts up motor 13 and its associated tape feed wheel 10 so that a short length of tape 39 is separated from supply roll 23 whenever the tape contacts the tape feed wheel. When the operator releases lever 11 the sewing machine and'tape feed mechanism stop simultaneously.

It should be understood that any type of ma-' chine control may be used in lieu of the knee operated lever 11 shown in Fig. 1. Also, the use of power means other than electric motors may' port, of a tape magazinemounted on said work table adjacent said work support member, and an L-shaped tape delivery channel extending'between said magazine and tape guide, saidtape f magazine comprising a flat housing comprisinga base and cylindrical side walls and having formed integrally withsaid bottom and sidewalls .a U-shaped channelway communicatingwith and extending tangentially therefrom,.a lid having a window disposed 'therethrough whereby the.

interior of said magazine may be observed without necessitating the opening of said lid member which is hingedly mounted to the side wall, a revoluble turn table centrally disposed within said magazine on which a roll of tape to be paid out through said channel is mounted, said L- shaped channel member comprising a horizontal leg, the free end of which fits into the U-shaped channelway of the magazine, and a vertical leg which is anchored to the stitching machine work support member, the free end of said vertical leg terminating in close proximity with said tape guide, said L-shaped channel having suitable roller means disposed within its walls whereby tape from the magazine is conducted to said tape guide free from contact with the walls of said channel.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with a power actuated machine for applying adhesively coated tape to an article worked on by said machine, of a magazine for rolled adhesively coated tape including means operable in conjunction with the operation of said machine for contacting the uncoated side of said tape and for separating tape from a roll thereof contained within said magazine, incident to feed of the tape to said machine.

3. In a device of the class described the combination with a power actuated machine including a manual machine-control unit, for applying adhesively coated tape to an article worked on by said machine, of a magazine for housing a roll of adhesively coated tape, means disposed within said magazine for causing the outer layer of adhesively coated tape'to separate from the roll incident to discharge from said magazine, said means being under the control of the manual machine-control unit whereby said means is concurrently operative with said power actuated machine.

4. In combination with a stitching machine adapted to be mounted upon a work table, and comprising a work support member and a tape guide mounted on said work support, of a tape magazine mounted on said work table adjacent said work support member and a tape delivery channel extending between said magazine and tape guide, said tape magazine comprising a flat housing comprising a base and cylindrical side walls and having formed integrally with said bottom and side walls a U-shaped channelway communicating with and extending tangentially therefrom, a revolvable turn table centrally disposed within said magazine on which a roll of tape to be delivered to said tape guide through said delivery channel member is mounted, said channel member comprising opposite ends, one end 01 which fits into the U-shaped channelway of the magazine, the opposite end of said channel member terminating in close proximity with said tape guide, and suitable means disposed within said channel member whereby tape from the magazine is conducted to said tape guide free from contact with the walls of saidchannel.

5. In combination with a stitching machine adapted to be mounted on a work table and comprising a work support, stitch forming and work feeding mechanisms, of a tape supply reel, an open topped magazine for housing said reel mounted on said work table, a cover member carried by and hingedly mounted to said magazine for controlling access to said reel, a transparent window provided in said cover member for exposing at least a sector of the tape disposed on said reel during those periods of time when the cover member is closed upon the magazine, a tape-discharge channelway provided in said magazine, a tape distribution channelway extending between the tape-discharge channelway of said magazine and said work feeeding mechanism, and means associated with said distribution channel for spacing the tape from the walls of the distribution channelway as it moves therethrough incident to the operation of the machine.

PHILIP L. O'DONNELL. 

